Cruising the Celebrity Solstice Review

Planning to cruise on the Celebrity Solstice? We recently took a 7-night Mexican Riviera cruise from Los Angeles, and here’s our Celebrity Solstice review.

After 16 years in LA, you’d think we’d often cruise to the Mexican Riviera. With the San Pedro and Long Beach cruise ports just 40-45 minutes from Pasadena, it seems like a no-brainer, especially with all the deals. But we’ve avoided cruises out of Los Angeles since our first failed attempt over a decade ago when we never made it off the ship in Cabo San Lucas due to swine flu warnings. That experience left us more cautious about the cruises we book—PTO and money are limited, and there are no do-overs.

Recently, though, we received a Blue Chip Club offer from Celebrity Cruises for a “free” 7-night cruise out of LA (we paid $435 in port fees and taxes, plus $245 in gratuities, and $300 for the Zero Proof Drink package). All in all, it was around $980, not including extras like tips, specialty dining, and excursions.

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The itinerary had more sea days than we prefer, and we wished it had a stop in Puerto Vallarta. But for the deal we got, it was worth escaping gloomy LA and experiencing another Celebrity cruise ship.

7-Night Celebrity Solstice Mexican Riviera Itinerary

Day 1 – Los Angeles, CA
Day 2- At Sea
Day 3 – Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Day 4 – Matzalan, Mexico
Day 5 – At Sea
Day 6 – At Sea
Day 7 – San Diego, CA
DAY 8 – Los Angeles, CA

In this Celebrity Solstice review, we’ll cover our experience from embarkation at the Los Angeles Cruise Port to the restaurants, entertainment onboard, and more.

Everything shared here is based on our personal experience and opinions, which may differ from yours. We’ll also provide helpful tips and insights on what to expect when sailing the Celebrity Solstice.

Starting in May, the Celebrity Solstice sails to Alaska.

Embarkation at the Port of Los Angeles Cruise

San Pedro World Cruise Terminal
100 Swinford Street
San Pedro, CA 90731

Since we live close by, we decided to drive and park in the lot across from the cruise terminal, which costs a maximum of $20 per day.

After comparing costs, driving ourselves was the most convenient option. When we researched the cost of Uber and taxis, it was a wash for us. It was easier for us to drive, park, and make our way to the cruise terminal.

We experienced one of our fastest embarkations inside the terminal, even quicker than our check-in for the Norwegian Epic in Barcelona. With our XPress Passes and passports ready in the Celebrity App, the crew swiftly checked us through the various stages and welcomed us onboard. The process was so fast it felt almost unbelievable.

Read More: How to Prepare for Embarkation Day

Celebrity Solstice Review

The Celebrity Solstice, launched in 2008, is the first ship in the Solstice class. It received a refurbishment in 2016, and according to the crew onboard, it’s due for an Edge Class refurbishment within the next year. While the ship is well-maintained, it’s beginning to show its age.

As the sister ship of the Celebrity Equinox, which we sailed a few years ago, the Solstice has an identical layout and size. This cruise showed us what the Equinox likely looked like before its Edge refurbishment. We’re excited to see how the Solstice transforms during its upcoming 14-22 day refurbishment—it’s likely to come out looking similar to, or even better than, the Equinox.

On this sailing, the ship was at full capacity with around 2,800 passengers, though it only felt crowded during peak times at the buffet. There was a great mix of passengers of all ages, including about 500 kids onboard due to Spring Break. The Celebrity Solstice is considered a mid-sized ship, accommodating nearly 3,000 passengers.

The Celebrity Mobile App

Be sure to download the Celebrity Mobile App before embarkation day. It’s your go-to for the latest trip updates, booking reservations, shore excursions, drink packages, and more. After checking in online, your X-Press Pass will be available in the app.

The Celebrity App is one of the best cruise apps, offering a daily planner, activity schedules, showtimes, pool activities, trivia, dinner menus, and more. We highly recommend it for an easier onboard experience, and you can use the app for free with the ship’s Wi-Fi.

A bonus feature is the free messenger service, which lets you stay connected with anyone in your cabin using the ship’s Wi-Fi at no extra cost.

Starlink is available onboard the Celebrity Solstice for a surcharge if you need full internet access during your cruise.

Muster Drill

Celebrity Cruises continues to use a digital muster drill. A safety video is available on the Celebrity App, and you must watch it before checking in at your designated muster station.

Complete the muster drill early—don’t wait until the last minute—so the ship can depart on time. It’s one of the easiest drills to complete and takes no time to check off your list.

Celebrity Solstice Review Stateroom Veranda Cabin # 8129

We booked this last-minute trip with limited cabin options, so we chose stateroom #8129, located portside and forward. The location was convenient, not far from the forward elevators and stairs. While we had a bit of a walk to reach the main dining room and buffet towards the aft, we still felt close to everything, as most amenities are on decks 5 and 6.

The room was nice, with plenty of storage for two people, including a closet with hangers, shelving, a safe, additional drawers in the vanity area, and storage above the bed. The room was clean and neat, though the furniture felt dated, especially the red decor, which could use an update.

A couple of drawbacks: there are no USB outlets in the room, so be sure to bring a plug with additional USB adapters. There are two US electrical ports available. The bathroom offered plenty of storage with an enclosed shower, but no clothing line was inside.

The balcony was spacious with unobstructed views, although the outdoor seating could use some TLC.

The biggest downside was the noise. As an older ship, the walls are thin—you can hear neighbors chatting or yelling, and every door that slams shakes the cabin. Keep this in mind when booking.

Our stateroom attendant, Mohammed, did a fantastic job taking care of our cabin twice a day. We appreciated that Celebrity continues to offer turn-down service, complete with chocolates on the pillows every night—a special touch we appreciated.

Read more: Cruise Cabin Tips and Tricks You Shouldn’t Miss

Celebrity Solstice Restaurants and Dining

Cruising is part of a Tasty Itinerary. The foods we eat on a cruise and ashore stay with us, whether the best or worst things we’ve ever eaten. And when we are cruising, food is a big part of the experience. While we enjoy some things more than others and have noticed a decline in quality, we still ate very well and loved our time in Celebrity Solstice.

Oceanview Cafe | The Buffet

On our last Celebrity cruise, we were wowed by the buffet, often preferring it over the main dining room. This time, however, we weren’t as impressed.

• Breakfast: The standard American and English breakfasts were lower in quality than we remembered. For real eggs, head to the omelet station for a fresh scramble, omelet, or fried egg. The hard-boiled eggs, eggs benedict, muesli, yogurt, and fresh fruit were consistently good, but the pancakes and waffles were disappointing.
• Lunch: Lunch was the best buffet meal of the day, especially the daily offerings at the carving station, which featured roast beef, porchetta, roasted pork, and more. Celebrity’s pizza remains a favorite, available until late at night.
• Desserts: The dessert station was hit or miss. We enjoyed the chocolate and vanilla cupcakes, poundcake, tiramisu, and tres leches cake. They also offered no-sugar and gluten-free options.
• Dinner: We mostly ate dinner in the main dining room, as the buffet offerings were reduced and less appealing. Many stations were closed, leaving only pizza, pasta, salad, burgers, and the carving station.

Additional Notes:

• Seating can be hard to find during busy times. It’s courteous to finish and leave promptly to allow others to sit.
• There’s outdoor seating at the aft, behind the buffet.
• Waiter service is available for drinks.
• Don’t forget to grab utensils before sitting down.

The Mast Grill

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Located on the top deck overlooking the pool, The Mast Grill is a popular spot with a line that’s well worth the wait. They serve up fantastic burgers and hot dogs, all grilled fresh with toppings like cheese, bacon, onions, lettuce, and tomatoes. They even have a special sauce. The fries are hot, crispy, and perfectly cooked.

Grand Epernay | The Main Dining Room

Dinner at the Main Dining Room (MDR) was a highlight every night! We opted for anytime dining and were seated almost immediately each evening.

The Grand Epernay dining room spans two levels, with anytime dining on deck 4 and set dining times on deck 3. Occasionally, we were seated on deck 3 if a table was available. On a couple of nights, we were asked if we’d like to share a table, and we enjoyed dining with and meeting other passengers.

We noticed that the menu has been condensed to a smaller selection of appetizers and entrees compared to the past. The menu features a section of timeless items available every night and a rotating selection of daily specials. You can mix and match or order more than one dish. Every meal we had was delicious, and the timeless items are well-loved for a reason. If you’re unsure about the specials, sticking to the timeless options is always a safe bet.

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Cafe Al Bacio

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With the Zero Proof Package, we made plenty of visits to Cafe Al Bacio, Celebrity’s signature cafe. They serve specialty coffees like lattes, cappuccinos, and macchiatos, as well as alcoholic coffee drinks (alcoholic options are extra unless you have the Classic or Premium packages).

In addition to coffee, Cafe Al Bacio offers snacks like pastries and cookies, which are included in your cruise fare. Even if you’re not in the mood for a specialty coffee, it’s worth stopping by for a snack—their cookies are delicious!

While we love our espresso, we have to mention that the Lavazza coffee served in the MDR is also really good.

Celebrity Solstice Specialty Restaurants

Murano

No Tasty Itinerary review would be complete without a visit to one of the specialty restaurants, and Murano is our favorite. It was the only specialty restaurant we booked twice—once for dinner and again for lunch.

• Lunch: $50 per person, plus gratuities. Wine Pairing: $35. [Click for Lunch Menu]
• Dinner: $60 per person, plus gratuities.

The menus differ slightly between lunch and dinner, with more choices available for dinner. Despite the more limited lunch menu, the quality is just as outstanding. If you’re a foodie, you’ll have a fantastic meal at Murano. Comparable dinners at home could easily cost $150 per person or more.

For dinner, from start to finish, the meal was amazing. The Lobster Murano is always my pick for the main entree, and it’s prepared tableside.

Celebrity Solstice Pools and Hot Tubs

The Celebrity Solstice features three pools: the Solarium pool and two outdoor pools, along with six hot tubs—four by the outdoor pools and two in the Solarium.

This cruise started with gloomy weather, but once it cleared up, the pool and deck became popular spots. We never had trouble finding seats, though we always started our days early on the top deck above the pool. By the afternoon on sunny days, the pool deck and pools were quite full.

One convenient feature is that waiters circulate to take drink orders, and carts with bottled drinks are rolled around, so you don’t need to visit the bar if you don’t want to.

The Solarium pool is the perfect place to relax and get away from it all. It was always quieter when we walked through, with plenty of chairs available.

Celebrity Solstice Entertainment

The entertainment on the Celebrity Solstice was significantly better than what we experienced on the Equinox. Most shows were enjoyable, and we didn’t feel the need to walk out of any this time, though we were close during one.

The cruise director, Patrick, was fantastic—he brought the right energy and excitement to every event. We especially appreciated his presence on stage and when leading activities.

With 500 kids onboard for Spring Break (not typical for Celebrity), Patrick and his team worked hard to keep the energy up and everyone involved.

In addition to the nightly shows, there were plenty of other activities, parties, and fun happening throughout the ship. This crowd was definitely more lively than on our last Celebrity cruise, where things quieted down after 8 pm.

The Celebrity Solstice Theater:

• Two Levels: The theater has two levels, with reserved seating for Retreat guests upstairs.
• Showtimes: Most shows are at 7 pm and 9 pm.
• Seating: On a full cruise like ours, arrive early to secure a seat as it fills up quickly. However, there’s no bad seat in the house—good views are available from all sides.
• Service: Waiters provide drink service during the shows.
• Condition: The theater could use some TLC. While the seats are comfortable, they could benefit from some updates.

Cheaza | Whitney Houston Tribute

Cheaza was a headliner on the Celebrity Solstice during our cruise, performing later in the week. Whitney Houston is a legend, and Cheaza’s tribute to her was outstanding! We didn’t know what to expect, but Cheaza made it clear there’s only one Whitney—yet she belted out those notes with incredible power.

When she sang “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” we stood and danced along with her, and her rendition of “I Will Always Love You” sent chills down our spines. Damn, she can sing!

Cheaza was incredible—full of magnetic energy that brought the house down. We loved her interaction with the audience, especially with the kids. She also performed in the grand foyer, belting out some Tina Turner and more. This Queen delivered the best performance of the week.

The Boy Band Project

nother headliner of the week was The Boy Band Project, and their show was a pleasant surprise. Whether you love or hate boy bands, you’ll appreciate the energy this group brings to the stage.

They perform hits from famous boy bands across the decades—better than some of the original bands—with a fun and engaging stage presence. They take their talent seriously, delivering an excellent medley of songs while adding some comic relief by playfully mocking the boy band phenomenon.

They sang and danced to songs from Boyz II Men, NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, One Direction, and more, and the crowds loved every moment. Later in the week, they even performed some oldies, like hits from the Jackson 5, in the Grand Foyer.

The Comedy of Frank Townsend

Frank Townsend performed two shows during our cruise: a family-friendly set on the first night and a late-night adult show later in the week. We attended both, and he was hysterical on both occasions.

What we loved about his comedy was how he spoke so many truths while making them funny. His late-night show had no boundaries, so if you’re easily offended, it might be best to skip it.

James Cielen | Magician

James Cielen is a renowned illusionist and magician, with performances in casinos, resorts, and on grand stages worldwide.

His show wasn’t just about entertaining with magic tricks—he also shared his wisdom and demonstrated a few tricks along the way. He presented his inspirational story of starting as a child magician, emphasizing perseverance and hard work in pursuing his dreams.

His magic and illusions were impressive, and we’re still left wondering how he pulled off some of those tricks.

Rock City

Rock City was the final show of the week and the best performance by the Celebrity Solstice cast members. If you love classic rock music, this show is a must-see. The cast delivered a passionate and energetic performance featuring classic hits from the 70s through the 2000s, including favorites from Queen, Led Zeppelin, the Eagles, and more.

While not all the lead singers stood out (the ladies had the strongest voices), the show was still a blast, with plenty of sing-along moments. The acrobatic performances added an extra oomph to the experience.

Broken Strings

Broken Strings is another entertaining performance by the Celebrity Solstice cast, featuring mash-ups of popular songs set around a birthday party with a 70s theme wardrobe. The songs were well-performed and danced through, making for an enjoyable show.

The only awkward part was when the cast came out to chat and dance right next to the audience in the theater. We found it a bit uncomfortable since we prefer to watch rather than participate.

Amade

Amade was our least favorite show of the week. It’s a reworked, remixed, and reimagined performance blending Mozart and other classical composers with modern music. Unfortunately, it felt like a train wreck—we almost walked out. Some performers struggled with the music, and the mismatched wardrobe only added to the confusion. At times, it seemed like they were attempting a Hamilton-inspired style but missed the mark.

The one highlight of the show was the impressive acrobatic performance.

Celebrity Solstice Orchestra

Celebrity Solstice Orchestra

Honorable mention to Solstice’s Celebrity Orchestra. They are part of every show and are a talented group of musicians. They play everything from classical, rock, and even pop songs. You name it, and they can play it. They are in the background of all these performances and productions.

The Service on Celebrity Solstice

The service on the Celebrity Solstice was top-notch! The crew was friendly, accommodating, and always ready to assist with a smile. Many went above and beyond to make our experience special.

While we encountered one issue with a crew member who rolled his eyes when we tried to address a concern, the housekeeping manager, Kliment, stepped in to make amends. He sent a beautiful arrangement of flowers and a bottle of wine to our cabin—an appreciated gesture, though we had already moved on from the incident.

Other Observations

• Seating: We found plenty of indoor and outdoor seating around the ship. We only had to search for a spot during peak times at the buffet.
• Cafe Al Bacio: While this is the best spot for specialty coffee, many espresso drinks are also available at the bars. If you can’t make it to deck 5 for your cappuccino or latte, the bar at the buffet can make it for you.
• Coffee-to-Go: You can request coffee-to-go cups if you didn’t bring your coffee tumbler.
• Bottled Water: The Rain Water aluminum bottles provided by Celebrity does not taste good. If you prefer premium bottled water, ask for another brand or bring your reusable water bottle to fill with filtered water at the buffet.
• Salespeople: Unlike our last Celebrity cruise, we noticed fewer pushy salespeople on board, which made for a more pleasant experience.
• Kid-Friendly: While Celebrity isn’t known for being kid-friendly with activities like water slides or go-karts, the kids on this ship seemed to be having a blast. We met a couple whose children didn’t want to leave Camp at Sea (the kids’ club) because they were having so much fun.

This Celebrity Solstice review was based solely on our experience. We would love to hear about yours. Leave a comment below!

BEFORE YOU SET SAIL, HERE ARE SOME RELATED ARTICLES YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS:

• Cruising the Celebrity Beyond and Staying in The Retreat
• Cruising the Celebrity Equinox Review
• Cruising the Norwegian Encore Review
• Cruising the Norwegian Joy Review